So as the title suggests, I'm here for tips and tricks on keeping rosemarry alive this year. 

I'm in zone 6B. My soil is a silty clay loam, and is definitely on the higher end of the clay percentage (around 40% clay based on soil maps and experience). 

Temps average upper 80s to mid 90s in the summer, with usually a few weeks in the 100s ( F). Humidity in the summer is typically between 65-80% even during droughts. 

My front yard (E-NE facing) is almost entirely shade for a majority of the day. My backyard (W-SW facing ) is essentially entirely full sun, and I swear it's a portal to hell. No plants have survived on the patio/in a pot in the last 4-5 years, even ones that are pretty well established and prefer full sun.  I lost two relatively large potted rosemarry plants to it last summer. The ground plants only last due to the clay content in the soil holding water. All my herbs did pretty well last year until I moved them from areas with more shade to the backyard.

The current plan is to keep the rosemarry in an unglszed ceramic pot. 

Last year I had trouble with the soil staying too wet, even soil designed for cactus and other plants that need fast draining soil. We got one heavy rain with the first rosemary outside, and I could never get the soil to dry out after that. The second plant crisped up in the sun, despite my best efforts to keep it alive 

I'm considering a sun shade to place over the rosemarry and other plants, because I do think we get far too much direct sunlight in the back, but not enough in the front (especially to assist with drying out after periods of rain which is why I moved plants from the front to the back last year). 

What suggestions do you have here? I'm not opposed to planting the rosemarry in the ground next year, but I don't have a good spot for it this year, and I don't want to commit to anything until I know where a new structure will go and see how it affects the yard. 

What can I do to keep this plant alive? I'm desperate. 

The current pot (from the store) is a plastic 8" pot. I haven't watered it yet (purchased a few days ago) and the soil is soaked still. It's been living inside as we're in the middle of heavy rains, but I've set it outside/under the overhang during periods of light to no rain so it gets a little more sun and air circulation. 

I have an 8" or 10" clay pot (I don't recall the exact size atm) to transplant it into, and am getting fresh soil tomorrow hopefully once I do some more research to see what will work best for it. If I need a larger pot, I'll buy one.

But any tips or tricks would be most helpful. 

Help with keeping rosemarry alive this year. Zone 6B